Getting around a layer cake that's too tall...

It's supposed to be made in two 10" pans but since I only have one, I made three 9" layers and thought they'd be shorter layers. But, they're each about 1 1/2" tall. My plan had been to layer chocolate mousse in between and frost w/ the ganache frosting. If I continue as planned, this will be close to a 7" tall cake and only 9" wide. Is that too tall? I thought of just using 2 layers but I do need the whole cake (party of over 40. I have another cake and a couple dozen cupcakes). I only have one cake box to transport it. Any clever ideas?

Yeah, I think three layers would throw the proportion off -- although it'll still probably taste fantastic.

If I were you, I would just with two layers and a smaller cake, esp. since you already have another cake and a couple dozen cupcakes.

And, honestly, do you think people will take smaller slices from a 3-layer cake versus one that's 2-layers? So it's not like a 3-layer cake will necessarily serve more than a 2-layer one. And, true or not, I think most people tend to take smaller pieces if the cake overall is smaller -- and vice versa (e.g. larger pieces from a larger cake).

Yeah, good point about servings two layers and three layers. Maybe I'll split two layers and have a four layer cake w/ cake/mousse in equal amounts. I can split the third cake and fill w/ ganache frosting. I need to find another cake holder but that shouldn't be that hard. Plus, this is the end of a 10+ course chinese banquet so people will be full by then.

That's what I ended up doing. I used two of the layers and did chocolate mousse filling so it ended up being a 4 layer cake. The other I split in half and did a salted rum caramel frosting. I'll find a container.

Thanks, eveyone--given how tall the cakes are, I can't imagine the tower it would have been if I had gone ahead w/ my original plan!

Glad it all worked out, but I have often seen very tall cakes, even Martha Stewart has done them. Generally, they involve splitting so there are 6 layers or more, with thinner layers of frosting/filling between them. They are sliced thinly and placed on their sides when plated. A tall cake engenders oohing and aahing when presented before being sliced.